OMG! I can't believe it!

Last Friday I find a guy at the Vegas Knife Show that takes knife pics and he mentions that he can also submit the pics to Blade Magazine. So I paid $45 for pics of the knife that I made for another maker in the Trade A Blade on USN (we never have exchanged knives yet, thankfully!) and he sent me the knife pic yesterday. Well today the phone rings and it's Steve Shakleford from Blade wanting more info about the knife so they can put it in the May issue that comes out next month! Woohoo!

And thanks to Rob Szajkowskiski at Balanc Digital for taking the pic and submitting it!

When I told the Blade guy the knife would be $350 for anyone that ordered it he was suprised at how un-expensive it was. The knife costs me over $100 in materials plus the time I put into it. It's a different world in the custom knife biz - I've had several guys last year who each bought 4 or more knives.

If that knife was stamped with a famous maker's name it'd be at least $600 if not $1000. And those guys have long waiting lists - it's only from guys like me that are relatively unknown that you can get cheaper blades without a long wait time.

But I do understand the point - until 3 years ago I never looked at customs and all the knives I used were Buck or Gerber or whatever. I started this as a hobby - something to do and never expected any recognition. I certainly cannot afford any customs but have been able to trade my work for some stuff. This is just what I do and as long as I make enough to buy more steel and grinding belts I'll be happy!

When I told the Blade guy the knife would be $350 for anyone that ordered it he was suprised at how un-expensive it was. The knife costs me over $100 in materials plus the time I put into it. It's a different world in the custom knife biz - I've had several guys last year who each bought 4 or more knives.

If that knife was stamped with a famous maker's name it'd be at least $600 if not $1000. And those guys have long waiting lists - it's only from guys like me that are relatively unknown that you can get cheaper blades without a long wait time.

But I do understand the point - until 3 years ago I never looked at customs and all the knives I used were Buck or Gerber or whatever. I started this as a hobby - something to do and never expected any recognition. I certainly cannot afford any customs but have been able to trade my work for some stuff. This is just what I do and as long as I make enough to buy more steel and grinding belts I'll be happy!

Click to expand...

I thought you were already a "famous maker" congrats the exposure will only mean an increase in the demand for your craft work ( goodthing? bad thing?).

Oh no, very few have heard of me in the knife world. I post knives for sale and they just sit there many times - if I get more orders that would be nice!

Some makers have everything sold before they make it. They have the funds to buy the best steels in full sheets and then send the sheets to get knives laser or waterjet cut. That's where I hope to get, and where I can upgrade some of my equipment to really good heavy-duty stuff.

I really feel like I am sharing this with all who helped me and all that have my knives - that Mayo comparison you made one time really made me feel good and I have always kept that with me. After 3 years what I know is that there's a whole lot left to learn so I'll just keep trying to get better. Oh yea I'm supposed to visit SRJ in a few months.

Llewellyn knives are definitely on my shopping list. August 2009, once I am building my cabin (hopefully) and out of the military (crosses fingers for stop-loss to be dropped by then).

I tell you what, Valkman. I already have a request for a small fighter, too. I could send you the cash and you can get started on it if you like. You will have over a year to prepare, lol. I will send you a PM.

I greatly admire your craftsmanship.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. "-- J. Krishnamurti“The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it.” -- George Orwell
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With the kind of publicity you are about to get, you better be ready to crank them out. You truly do excellent work, sometimes all it takes is just a little spark to light a huge bonfire. Hopefully that "Blade" article will be just the spark.